U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton holds a pad of note paper with a note reading "5,000 troops to Colombia" as he waits to address reporters as the Trump administration announces economic sanctions against Venezuela and the Venezuelan state owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA) during a press briefing at the White House in Washington Monday. | REUTERS

'5,000 troops to Colombia' seen written on Trump aide John Bolton's notepad amid Venezuela talks

WASHINGTON - U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton was photographed Monday holding a notepad that included the handwritten line “5,000 troops to Colombia.”

Bolton spoke to White House reporters while holding the yellow notepad and discussing the crisis in Venezuela, where the U.S. now recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.

It was not until after the briefing that observers spotted the black scrawl.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a U.S. official said “we are not seeing anything that would support” a potential troop deployment to Colombia, which neighbors Venezuela.

The Pentagon referred a query back to the White House.

During the briefing, Bolton would not rule out use of U.S. troops in Venezuela.

“The president has made it clear on this matter that all options are on the table,” he said.

The U.S. military’s Southern Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bolton’s notepad also had the line: “Afghanistan — welcome the talks” — a reference to a potential breakthrough in discussions with the Taliban.